Romans 4:9-16

Abraham Justified by Faith

9 Is this blessing then only for a the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? b We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 c He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was d to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

The Promise Realized Through Faith

13 For e the promise to Abraham and his offspring f that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 g For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For h the law brings wrath, but i where there is no law j there is no transgression.

16 That is why it depends on faith, k in order that the promise may rest on grace and l be guaranteed to all his offspring - not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, m who is the father of us all,

  1. Cross References
    Romans 3:30
    Since God is one - who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
  2. Cross References
    Romans 4:3
    For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.
  3. Cross References
    Genesis 17:10 - 11
    This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
  4. Cross References
    Romans 4:12
    And to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
    Romans 4:16
    That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring - not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.
    Romans 3:22
    The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
    Luke 19:9
    And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.
  5. Cross References
    Galatians 3:16
    Now the promises were made to Abraham and to hi...
    Hebrews 6:15
    And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obta...
    Hebrews 6:17
    So when God desired to show more convincingly t...
    Hebrews 7:6
    But this man who does not have his descent from...
    Hebrews 11:9
    By faith he went to live in the land of promise...
    Hebrews 11:17
    By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered u...
    Romans 9:8
    This means that it is not the children of the f...
    Acts 13:32
    And we bring you the good news that what God pr...
  6. Cross References
    Genesis 17:4 - 6
    Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.
  7. Cross References
    Galatians 3:17 - 18
    This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void.
  8. Cross References
    Romans 7:7
    What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet.
    Romans 7:10 - 25
    The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.
    2 Corinthians 3:7
    Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end.
    2 Corinthians 3:9
    For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.
    Galatians 3:10
    For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.
  9. Cross References
    Romans 3:20
    For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
  10. Cross References
    Galatians 3:19
    Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary.
  11. Cross References
    Romans 3:24
    And are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
  12. Cross References
    Galatians 3:22
    But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
    Romans 15:8
    For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs.
  13. Cross References
    Romans 9:8
    This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.